PLANS to restore Queen's Park's popular tennis courts in time for June's gala opening have been given the elbow.

PLANS to restore Queen's Park's popular tennis courts in time for June's gala opening have been given the elbow.

Members of the park's restoration group are angry after being told there's no money to reinstate the four tennis courts.

They say they were promised when a temporary road was carved through the courts last year that they would be restored and back in use when the major part of the Heritage Lottery-funded restoration project was completed.

The restoration group has asked Township chairman Councillor Nick Maher to help and he is planning a meeting with council officials to try and rescue the project.

He said: "It's my view that if there was never any prospect of the tennis courts being reinstated, they should have been relocated within the park and that should have been included in the plans.

"It appears that the council and the contractors came to this agreement for a road to go through the courts, even though that wasn't part of the original plan. If that is the case, the council or the contractors should pay to reinstate the tennis courts.

"I will be taking this up with officers at the highest level."

Restoration group chairman Sheila Hill said: "The original plan for the restoration was for contractors' vehicles to use a route to the left of the tennis courts.

"But then the plan was changed and it was decided to lay a road surface right through the courts.

"We were told that surface would eventually become part of the playing area when the rest of the courts were resurfaced to make a level surface.

"We are livid that the council has said there is no money to reinstate the courts in time for June. The plan was to have tennis courts and a multi-sports surface."

Vice-chairman Walter Lomax added: "The council and contractors decided to put this road through, so they need to sort it out. It has been estimated that the work would cost £70,000 but that isn't covered by the money from the Heritage Lottery because it was never part of the plans."